Al Blackstone

Al Blackstone is an Emmy-nominated director, choreographer, and educator and the recipient of the 2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreographic Excellence.  Dance Magazine has called his work “sweet, silly, sly... infectious.”

While working mostly in musical theater, Al's passion for Contemporary and Jazz dance enriches his unique approach to storytelling. Most recent projects include directing and choreographing the musical Annie (Axelrod Theater) featuring Andrea McArdle, the world premiere of The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes (Village Theater), and Pippin (Music Theater Wichita). Though well known for his witty and emotional work on the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance (seasons 12-15) He is perhaps best known for his original narrative style which blends dance and his own brand of theatrical storytelling. In June of 2016 he directed, choreographed, and wrote Freddie Falls In Love at the Signature Theater (NYC).  It was his second full-length work since Happy We'll Be premiered at the legendary Roseland Ballroom in July 2012.

Splitting his time between the commercial and concert world, Al has created new work for the contemporary dance company 10 Hairy Legs, The Fire Island Dance Festival, Good Morning America, Broadway Bares, Pace University, University of the Arts, Juilliard, and Marymount Manhattan College.  Theatrical projects include the world premiere Off-Broadway musical The View Upstairs, Newsies at the Maltz Jupiter Theater (Carbonell Award), and three seasons at Music Theater Wichita.  Additional choreography credits include The Bad Years (NYC workshop), Crazy In Love (a musical by Kooman and Dimond), Born To Dance (Princess Cruise Lines), American Dance Spectacular! (Northeast Tour), and the opening numbers for BCEFA’s Easter Bonnet (2013/14) and Gypsy of the Year (2015/16). 

As an Associate Choreographer Al has worked alongside the great Sonya Tayeh on The Last Goodbye (The Old Globe), Kung Fu (Signature Theatre, NYC), Head Over Heels (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), and The Wild Party (City Center).  Al tours with JUMP Dance Convention and loves coffee, disco, and old fashioned jukeboxes. He is ever grateful for any opportunity to bring people together.